28.4.12

1992 AND ALL THAT

There's been much talk of the 1992 World
Championship during this year's event, largely due to the fact that it's been
20 years since eight seeds lost in the first round.

Snooker Scene of June 1992 called that year's tournament
event a "vintage championship." It was packed with incident, new and
old faces doing well, and ended with a thrilling final.

There were 25 centuries made in the whole
championship, a mark we have long since passed this year.

A total of 20 players have made centuries at the
Crucible already. In 1992, only 11 did. Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, the
finalists, made six apiece and so accounted for just about half of all the tons
made.

So we can already deduce that the overall standard
has risen and that more players are capable of better performances.

Hendry in fact did not make a century in the 1992
World Championship until the 12th frame of his semi-final against Terry Griffiths
but compiled four more in the final, three of which came in the final session.

There was a real international flavour to the
championship 20 years ago with 11 nationalities represented.

Of these, New Zealand's Dene O'Kane reached the
quarter-finals for a second time. He had trailed Steve James 9-6 in the first
round but beaten him 10-9 before a 13-10 victory over Chris Small, then an 18
year-old who had won eight matches to qualify before beating Doug Mountjoy in
the first round.

Another ex-quarter-finalist, Jim Wych of Canada,
made it through to the last eight again with wins over Dean Reynolds and Willie
Thorne.

The first day saw an historic win for John Parrott,
the defending champion who defeated Eddie Charlton 10-0. This remains the
Crucible's only whitewash.

Dennis Taylor was beaten by a debutant, Mick Price,
in a match best remembered for a dispute Taylor had with the referee, Len
Ganley, over the miss rule, which had not long since changed to the version we
know today.

But the most infamous first round match in1992 saw
Peter Ebdon, a 21 year-old with a ponytail and fast, free flowing style of
play, beat Steve Davis, who had won the last of his six world titles three
years earlier, 10-4.

This was a sensational debut from an assured
newcomer clearly confident in the heat of the Crucible.

Ebdon defeated Martin Clark in the second round but
his run was ended by a resurgent Griffiths, 44 years old and evoking memories
of his heyday.

Alas, Griffiths would be drubbed 16-4 by Hendry, who
in fact led 10-0 before the veteran Welshman won a black ball frame to stave
off the dreaded whitewash.

White found it difficult to shake off Alain Robidoux
in the second round, eventually winning 13-11, but otherwise made reasonably
serene progress to a fourth world final.

The highlight of the championship for White had come
in the opening round when he made the second Crucible 147 against Tony Drago.

This was not shown live on the BBC. There was no red
button, no Eurosport coverage, no online stream. The break was shown hours
later on Sportsnight. Back then TV coverage was piecemeal: you got what you
were given with no alternative options.

Hendry opened a much anticipated final with a
century, 105, but trailed 4-3 at the conclusion of the session and lost a black
ball frame to kick off the evening.

By the end of the night he was 10-6 down and White
was heading for his heart's desire.

What could possibly go wrong?

Not much, it would seem, when they resumed on bank
holiday Monday for the grand finale. Hendry did not pot a ball in the first two
frames as White arrived at 12-6 with the aid of a 134 break.

At 14-8, it looked all over, but Hendry won the next
before a pivotal final frame of the afternoon.

Hendry potted a brown at the end of this frame which
almost defines his career: it was do or die, it was audacious, it was brave, it
was brilliant.

Furthermore, it made the difference between a 15-9
lead for White - surely insurmountable - and 14-10.

The first two frames of the evening session were
close and Hendry won them both. As the pressure grew, the Scot became stronger
while White, seeing his lead eroded, was able to make only one half century break
all evening.

Another century, 128, brought Hendry level at 14-14,
he dominated the next two frames and finished with efforts of 134 and 112.

This completed a ten frame winning streak, an
awesome run which gave him a second world title and planted serious mental
scars in White, which would become apparent when the pair met again in the final
the following two years.

The 1992 World Championship is generally remembered
for this final and for Hendry's comeback.

It capped a fascinating 17 days in Sheffield. Hard to
believe, then, that 20 years on the man who won is still creating more memories at the
most hallowed venue of them all.

I would say this is more an opportunity for Maguire than Hendry. Hendry won't get past Trump, Maguire possibly can. I feel it's make or break this year for Maguire, because how many better chances will he have to make the final? He's not the best player around, but he's been in form this season and he can beat the top players. This tournament's dark horse?

I think if they played this match four or five times Hendry would win at least one, so whos to say this one wont be the one.

Hendry has to play well and Mags has to play below his best. I've seen Hendry play magnificently in recent times then turn in a turgid performance in the next round. He was fortunate that Higgins was desperate. We know Maguire is in good form recently and is a serious title contender.

I fancied Carter to win or do well against Trump, and made a nice few bob backing him in frame betting on Betfair. Also backed him for the match at 5-2 and was able to back Trump at near evens this morning so have a free bet now.

Assuming they both get through, Robbo and Ronnie looks like the big one. This might well decide the winner, particularly if Trump fails to make the final.

that '92 tournament still seems so fresh in the memory, it truly was one of the passing of the guard moments in snooker as the tour had opened up and so many new faces emerged at expense of the old guard.

Why dont the Beeb do montages like this anymore, this and the shot of the championship were always great highlights every year, but it seems these days the same old tired features and drivel is done, instead of these pieces that all fans loved.